Bodu Bala Sena anti-Halal agitation to begin in Maharagama tomorrow

By Dharisha Bastians
The Bodu Bala Sena will launch a campaign of agitation for the Halal Certification to be withdrawn completely tomorrow, representatives of the organisation said yesterday, adding that if their call goes unanswered, they will go door to door to bring pressure on the certifying body and the Government to ensure the certification process is halted.

Addressing a media conference at the Buddhist Cultural Centre yesterday, Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thera charged that the All Ceylon Jamaithul Ulema (ACJU) was engaged in a separatist campaign to divide religious communities in the island.
“It is not the BBS that created extremism in this country. The separatism that Prabhakaran could not achieve, the ACJU has managed to achieve in Sri Lanka today. The Muslim clergy have divided this society into two and built mistrust between religious communities,” the monk charged, hitting back at remarks by an Opposition politician on Wednesday.
“It is a simple thing of having two display units for Halal and non-Halal food. Non Muslims have no use for Halal foods.

We certainly should never offer food dedicated to their God in our offerings to the Buddha,” he said.
He said if the trend continues, Christians would begin placing symbols of the crucifix on food products, and Buddhists the dharmachakra.
The organisation’s representatives also vehemently denied that they had launched a poster campaign against the Muslim community. “We can if we want to. We will go door to door to make sure this Halal certification is stopped – that is our right,” the monk-led group said, reiterating however that they intended to continue their campaign against Halal food products in peaceful ways.
“Politicians who cast allegations at us about these poster campaigns must understand that this is the nature of a national movement; today the Bodu Bala Sena have given this country a goal,” Gnanasara Thero said.
He said the Bodu Bala Sena had “awakened a sleeping race” and rekindled Buddhist pride. This was terrifying forces in the country that were huddled in corners and plotting to spread fundamentalism and extremism, the monk charged. “It is this renaissance of the Sinhala Buddhists that will defeat them,” he told the news conference.
The group also acknowledged that there may have been certain incidents of misconduct reported against the Muslim community, but dismissed them as being ordinary parts of a social movement. “There is nothing we can do about that. We cannot control it but we have never acted against the Muslim community,” the monks said.
“The Bodu Bala Sena will go from strength to strength; we have the social capital to do that. And whether they are in the Government or Opposition, all those who attack the Sinhalese and Buddhists will be grouped together and defeated,” Gnanasara Thero claimed.
Another Buddhist monk addressing the press conference said that the Halal Certification issue was a symbol of growing Islamification of the country. “When the Muslims were just two per cent of the population, they were as quiet as kittens. Now that their population has increased, they are trying to impose their ritualistic food products upon this country. The next plan is to bring about Sharia law. Already there is Muslim banking system in the country,” the representative said.
Gnanasara Thero said it was unfair that while other people in the country had to pay interests on bank loans, the Muslims did not have to do so because of special concessions being made to them by the banks.
The monks said that it was apparent that links were emerging between those politicians and organisations that were casting allegations of extremism at the Bodu Bala Sena and the ACJU.

Comments

In order to co-exist peacefully muslims should refrain doing things to upset existing social structure. Their ambitions to convert Sri Lankan life to one under Sharia Law in graual dubiious methods like changing patterns of dress as in the middle east or trying to accumulate funds through the Halal Certificates for the Global Jihad Campaign is bound to cause unrest in the country. Therefore I wish wisdom will emerge from Islamic leaders not to lead their followeres down this dangerous path for greater benefit firstly to the muslims and then to the nation at large.

zury on
February 16th, 2013 7:56 am

I think these issues could be resolved quite easily. Because all these allegations have very little truth in it. It is ACJU’s duty to explain this to our Buddhist brothers. We all know how well the Buddhist and Muslim brothers got along each other in this country. We never had problems. We all need a peaceful country. Just to give our viewers a small insight on the banking systems. It is not true that in Islamic banking customer pays lesser amounts. In fact it is very much higher than the other banks. We should know that Islamic banking is not only for Muslims. It is yet another banking or financial system. Let us start looking for clarifications. Thank you

naleer on
February 16th, 2013 8:32 am

Easy way to withdrawal of HALAL is company to company not to muslim community.

kira on
February 16th, 2013 8:35 am

Better change name to something else. It is a sin , Under cover of buddhism to condem another culture. Monks should think about how to make it better for all the people in Sri Lanka.The way these monks act.” They are just another gangsters try to be in power” No matter what those monks go back to school and study buddhism from the begening.

Kumar on
February 16th, 2013 9:17 am

Aren’t these monks kind of strange? Buddha never had a “Bodu Bala Sena” to force others to do what he preached. So where is the connection between Buddha’s preaching and saffron robed individuals trying to do. These are Buddhist by birth not by conviction?

JRDW on
February 16th, 2013 9:33 am

Why can these monks stay in the temple and preach goodness rather than create division. If the govt does allow this to escalate then things would get very ugly. Monks, Priest's Should never engage in creating division.

hamid on
February 16th, 2013 10:55 am

I as a muslim, do not worry about halal certificates, as i cant trust the certificate,what is the guarante that we muslims have halal products, what guarantee we have only halal food when we go out and eat., i do purchase meat products from all produseres, i refrain from pork products, we muslimes cant force any other faith to eat only halal food. This is a budhist country and we are minorityes and we should folow our religon without hinderence to otheres,we have no issues in sri lanka, i would kindly advise our muslim moulavies and pundits not to come on tv and argue with other priests, pls do all your prieching in the mosques, and come on programes and preach what islam has said during the month of fasting and muslim holy days, we are free to preach our religon and the government has given us enough air time, we have sufered as sri lankens enough during the time of jvp and ltte tererisem, pls donot misguide.

shazly on
February 16th, 2013 12:41 pm

this is not a big issue in terms of halal certificate but this extremist / racist group is making it a big issue. for example halal food is prefer by all muslims to consume if the non muslims dont want that let them buy non halal food , thats all. its your choice this is a demacratic country we have free will though its a buddhist country. these monks should be educated. if you wanted to have a good lunch go to hilton hotel and have it or may have in a street corner eating house.

if you stopped the halal certificates in sri lanka do you think middle eastern countries will buy non halal foods from sri lanka. Racsims will drop your economics and the muslim world friendship to a bay. if the muslim world stop supporting sri lanka. you will have a hard time even for few month.

Now all what we need is peace after a very long war 30 years. few sinhalese has sick mentally, they want fights and killings not harmony but terror and war.

Dudley on
February 16th, 2013 1:17 pm

Even if Lord Buddha was to come alive and advice these idiots to behave like proper followers of the the Budddhas noble preachings,, they may organise a protest campiagn against Lord Buddha himself!!!!

Dr. Roshan London on
February 16th, 2013 1:36 pm

If these monks are true buddhists they would not indulge in these affairs. If you want halal you buy and if you do not want do not buy, it is simple as that. These monks have an agenda of entering poltics by fooling the buddhists. This is what champika did as well as ven ellanantha thero did. They are funded by foreign countries so that they want to show the world that that minorities are not protected in srilanka. There are prelates in buddhits who have not raised any concerns on this and this bbs wants to show that they are the only protectors of buddhism, pls tell us are they following the the buddhist concepts.Where in buddhism Lord Buddah said to show vengeance against another craeture.

My only wish is our leraned(I hope) buddhist monks will follow the Lord Budhdha’s teachings and lead mere mortals like on a good path.

Ruwan on
February 16th, 2013 2:03 pm

Monks has no business here. Any reasons why a respectable news paper such as yours should give front page space for this kind of news items? You are becoming part of it. I don’t understand.

SHJ on
February 16th, 2013 2:51 pm

This BBS is unnecessarily taking muslims for a ride. HALAL means clean food. That’s it. It is good for everyones health.

Saliya Wicks on
February 16th, 2013 8:07 pm

I’m Catholic, and fully approve what the monks say. Islamization is a global threat.

Munawwar on
February 17th, 2013 11:16 am

>>Gnanasara Thero said it was unfair that while other people in the country had to pay interests on bank loans, the Muslims did not have to do so because of special concessions being made to them by the banks.<<

Not true. The bank sells the product to the customer for which he pays the market value. Islamic banking is run on profit and risk sharing basis. That is, the investor's share is in proportion to the profit earned. On the other hand, if the bank makes a loss, the investor does not get any profit; he loses all or part of his investment.

As for halal certification, it is voluntarily obtained by traders in order to maximize their sales. Halal means 'permitted', not only in food, but also everything that concerns life. There is no offering food to god in Islam. If he needs offerings of food he won't be god.

aatiq on
February 17th, 2013 1:54 pm

Halal certificate confirms not only the purity of the products without any corruption but also tends to gain a lot of foreign money. Unless any one is satisfied with the Halal (pure products), He can buy other non Halal products in the market. No need to blame the certificate that is freely available in each and every country.

Ahamed Deen on
February 17th, 2013 3:08 pm

The Islamic Banking is very costlier than the conventional banking. You are misleading the whole population in Sri Lanka. Please have your facts right. Moreover, we don’t care whether who eats what and as a fundemental in our religeon, we will avoid non-halal food. It is not difficult to find a way to have halal only food. Your Bodu Bala Sena will bring only religeous hatred in this country and no one has neither requested any buddhist to convert to our religeon nor we have asked for a piece of land from this country. You can preach your buddhist masses to bear more children than simply bring percentage equation. Mind you neither you nor me was born when the muslims started living in this country. I have more rights to usher as a senior citizen in this country than you people. The way you have commented, I seriously doubt that you are from the apex of the clergy. By the way, who knows where you people are coming from and which caste you belongs to?

jay on
February 17th, 2013 3:55 pm

You can eat whatever you want,halal or non halal ..Govt must step in to clear this mess.Bodu Bala Sena is a little known organization ,trying to gain some supporters by stoking up passions.If the muslims are increasing their population then what is is preventing buddhists from increasing their poplation,just ask your followers to produce more kids.!

M.Aslam on
February 17th, 2013 5:05 pm

It is sad to express that, Gnanasara Thero has no clear knowledge about the subjects he carrying out, he is clearly misleading even the peace loving Budhist brothers. All Allegations leveled against ACJU should be examined, the TNL debate, ACJU officials requested an air slot to express their purpose of Halla certificate and objectives of ACJU but it was rejected by TNL, if they do not clearly express and explain the subjects then no one will understand the reality in the debate, as they were not given the opportunity to explain their viewes they did not participate in the debate. I think it was a real blow to the BBS and the TNL, If any one can allocate an air slot to ACJU to explain their subject,I think that could bring in some clarity to the whole Sri Lankan people. and that would a greater worthy cause.

M Rahim on
February 17th, 2013 6:17 pm

It’s time the BBS get off their high horse ,without targeting defenceless minorities they should address the increased cases of murder, rape, ,robbery among the community. Wake up BBS and smell the coffee …the real threats faced by Sri Lanka is internal,not convenient scapegoats like the Muslims.

amitha on
February 17th, 2013 7:52 pm

It is true that muslims lived in this sinhala buddhist country for centuries. it is well known fact that they eat and drink through out with out halal certifications. now the question is why they need halal certified stuff for consumption, isnt it strange. we respect their religion . but you cant have two three laws in this country. we appeal the authorities to abolish other form of laws such as thesawalame law. and country can have only one law.
apart from this now all most all finance institutions have started muslim banking. this is for whom. who requested this form of banking in this country. (Haram salli Halal salli karannada?).
is anybody done researh on this how much business they created or done and who are they(to whom the lending has been done)

usman on
February 17th, 2013 9:40 pm

we Muslims t have no idea about what you guys are talking about .we Muslims have lived centuries have you guys ever heard of a Muslim against any Buddhists no and if you guys take are generation our grand parents would be a Sinhalese. so we have an equal right in this democratic country.

mohamed on
February 17th, 2013 10:03 pm

halal means permitted,suitable for consumption,it is not only for muslims its good for anybody who eat them,it is not obligatory for anyone or any company to get halal certificate. acju is not forcing anyone and if BBs dont want it pls pressurise those popular companies not apply for certificates.no one will tell anything.its not fair to rally against muslim businesses or muslims,

Ulumuddeen on
February 18th, 2013 1:20 am

The formula is very simple.
If one does not require the Halal symbol he can always reject it and who wants let him buy. If ACJU forcing you to buy halal or enforce to have the symbol by force you may seek legal action.

So we should not make it an issue and instigate Sinhala Buddhist to hate Muslim. By this way you all are making the whole world to have grudge against Sri Lanka and make the Hon. President uneasy.

slave of allah on
February 18th, 2013 7:02 am

it is absolutely injustice on muslims in the country by Bodu Bala Sena.But it is noted that allah is always enough for muslims.please dont hurt the minds of muslimcommunity.We are all true srilankans. we respect all the religions in this country.

Fairness to all communities…why not make HALAL food an optional in Sri Lanka? let the people decide what they want…why these Budhist Monks get involved? I n any case the Buddhist Monks dont eat beef or chicken….and I hope the majority Budhists be more vigilent since they have lot of sufferings when the LTTE war was going on in Sri Lanka…all people have relegion beleifs to choose…no leaders or Politicians can tell anyone to beleive what they want…this is a set back to SL development and the United Nation acusations…all Sri Lankans should join handa and defeat the relegious leaders who is taking advantages of small issues like this Halal issue….a sad exposure….

NHS on
February 19th, 2013 3:41 pm

What if the ACJU and Bodu Bala sena both benefit from this? looks like the partnership is there

roshan de silva on
February 20th, 2013 11:23 pm

the halal certificate is ok. collecting funds for Islamic activities from this label should be banned. it is like any other community uses a religious logo. to earn money for that community from others. it is wrong.

Bodu Bala Sena is Spearheading the Anti-Halal Agitation Aided and Abetted by the Jathika Hela Urumaya

By

Lasanda Kurukulasuriya

safe passage on
March 21st, 2013 12:14 am

its very strange that they suddenly organising events to boycot halal and other issues which really creating the unwanted issues among the sinhala and muslim comunities.first these monks should know how to come forward with issues like this.before they talk about halal they should protest against the alcohol products,they should advise sinhalese to not to send there old age parents to orphanage,they should request sinhalese to come to temples at least the day of poya,they should advise sinhalese to protect the pansil pada paha and live there life’s according to the so called budu dhahama,advise sinhalese to avoid beef mutton chiken and other meet product coz buddhism is all about vegiterian .funny is without talking these issues and they are worrying about halal.whata joke.these are hypocrites .

kurshid on
April 28th, 2013 9:42 pm

my dr muslim and sinhala friends,this life free will to non muslims,but not 2 muslims,they(muslims) need to follow their quran and hadits,one who no need to eat halal things and drinks,very easy to them eat pork,cockroch,what ever you want,and drinks also whiskey ,brandy,old arrack,but you should understand one day you will die,you are one punnish from the god,one who eat and drink non halal things,this not faith,this a truth and proof.thank you

[...] rise of the Bodu Bala Sena, a Buddhist nationalist group dedicated to exerting the dominance of the Sinhala Buddhist majority over the populace, has placed the spotlight on the government who is supposedly dedicated to [...]